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A federal claims judge ruled that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke must testify in relation to a lawsuit brought by a company run by former American International Group CEO Maurice "Hank" Greenberg. The case alleges that the U.S. intervention in AIG was unconstitutional. "Mr. Bernanke repeatedly has acknowledged that he was a key decision maker on behalf of the Government, and his testimony unquestionably is relevant to the Fifth Amendment taking and illegal exaction claims before the Court," Judge Thomas Wheeler wrote in his decision permitting Bernanke's deposition.

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Japan's seasonally adjusted jobless rate reached 3.9% in June, compared with 4.1% in May, bringing unemployment to its lowest level since October 2008, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications says. Job creation decelerated last month compared with June 2012.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recommended fining Barclays $470 million and sending the case on possible manipulation of the energy market to U.S. court. The fine would be the biggest in FERC's history. "If the FERC proceeds, we intend to vigorously defend this matter in federal court," Barclays spokesman Mark Lane said.

A grounds worker in Utah was fired when he couldn't produce a valid driver's license as required for his job, but he claimed he was really fired as retaliation for reporting that two colleagues had had sex at work. A federal court in Utah dismissed his case: "Mr. Zimpfer stumbled upon two persons engaged in sexual activity, which was not directed at him or his status as a man," the judge ruled.

A recent court case in which a judge ruled that an employee was fired in retaliation for taking time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act provides important reminders for employers, Tim Gould writes. "Although courts have ruled that employers have the right to fire returning workers if they can prove the workers would have been terminated whether or not they took FMLA leave, the actual treatment of those returning workers can spell the difference between winning and losing in court," Gould writes.

An eight-person jury said Starr International, run by former American International Group CEO Maurice R. "Hank" Greenberg, was not required to hand over $4.3 billion to AIG. U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff could override the ruling. "This is not the final judgment," Rakoff said. He is expected to rule on the case within the next couple of months.